*Collaborative Post*
They say that having a baby can be anxiety-inducing, and of course this can be true. Thankfully, your instincts will often kick in, and you’ll no doubt do a much better job than you could ever have imagined. That said, when your little one starts to develop, learn and become their own little personality, well, this requires even more attention.
As such, limiting your anxieties as a toddler parent is not just a good idea, but can help you respond to the daily duty of parenting with more care and comfort. But how can you get started with such an approach? Surely, if you’re not in constant 100% mother or father mode, you’re slacking?
Well don’t worry, there are a few utilities you can use to keep this process manageable, and your general reactions to responsibility less dizzying than they seemed before. With that in mind, let’s consider how to limit your anxieties as a toddler parent:
Use Structured Learning To Help With Development
It can be nerve-wracking to know how to support your child outside of the usual bounds of their learning curriculum. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel luckily. Try setting aside time each day for activities that focus on different skills. This could be anything from reading stories together to practice language skills or letter sound games, to sorting objects by color or shape to develop cognitive abilities. The real goal here is to make it fun and engaging for both of you so you want to keep it up
The best approach is to create opportunities for learning that fit naturally into your day. This structured approach can help you feel more in control and give you real, tangible and most of all sustainable ways to support your child’s development. It also means you don’t have to keep worrying about “doing enough” – you will be.
A Routine & Behavioral Chart Is Your Friend
Toddlers tend to thrive on routine, so having a consistent schedule can help reduce anxiety for both you and your child and give you more momentum and energy each day. Such a daily routine gives your toddler a sense of security and helps them know what to expect. This can lead to fewer “meltdowns” and smoother transitions throughout the day even when they’re a little tired.
Creating a simple behavioral chart can also be helpful. This doesn’t have to be complicated – just a visual representation of expected behaviors and rewards with sticker rewards to encourage good behavior. For example, you might use stickers to mark when your toddler helps tidy up toys or uses kind words. It’s a nice way to systemize teaching them well without necessarily worrying about missing anything.
Engage With Their Teachers For More Information & Understanding
If your toddler attends daycare or preschool, their teachers can be a valuable resource. These professionals have experience with many different children and can give you real insights into typical toddler behavior and development or help you know anything to be concerned about.
When teachers know how to support you and act as your friend, you’ll feel a little less worried about what’s going on at school that you don’t know about.With this advice, we hope you can lessen your anxieties even as a toddler parent.